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3.1 Phillip Lim goes fur-free

New York-based fashion house 3.1 Phillip Lim announced on Monday that as of Fall 2019, it is banning the use of fur and exotic skins in all of its ready-to-wear and accessories collections.

The brand announced that it is going fur-free via Instagram - Instagram: @31philliplimWith the support of the Humane Society of the United States, the brand’s collections will therefore no longer feature furs such as fox, mink, lynx, chinchilla, and karakul lamb, or exotic skins like python, alligator, crocodile and lizard.

The label will, however, continue to use leathers and shearling, which are understood to be by-products of the meat industry.

The move to ban fur is part of a wider strategy being implemented at the brand in order to make its operations more environmentally conscious and sustainable.

“Balance is key – recognizing that we will always have a footprint but offsetting it with small gestures that eventually amount to a grand shift,” explained the label in a press release.

“The decision to ban fur – from an ethical and environmental perspective – speaks to our commitment to remain true to this ethos and listen to our customers: environmentally conscious, global citizens who shop with their values top of mind.”

As part of its strengthened commitment to ethical fashion, 3.1 Phillip Lim also partnered with cruelty-free beauty and haircare brand Aveda and recently launched responsibly sourced cosmetics label Unframe The Beauty for its Fall 2019 runway, which took place in New York on Monday.

The brand further announced that it had renewed its partnership with global Merino wool authority The Woolmark Company, renowned worldwide for its demanding animal welfare standards. The label’s Fall 2019 collection therefore features a number of pieces in Merino wool, a material which has already become something of a staple in 3.1 Philip Lim’s apparel and accessories ranges.

The announcement makes the brand the latest in a growing number of high-end labels ditching fur in reaction to the increasingly exacting ethical standards of consumers.

Brands that have recently made a commitment to go fur-free include Jean-Paul Gaultier and Diane von Furstenberg, while Chanel announced in December that it would no longer use exotic skins. And fashion houses aren't the only ones making the change: at the beginning of this month, digital-first luxury retailer Farfetch also said that it will stop selling fur by the end of the year.